To find the best outdoor games, we spent hours researching the most popular options on the market. While narrowing down the list, we considered factors like versatility, durability, storage, and price. We also spoke with Yaz Quiles, owner of experimental and creative agency Pop! By Yaz, and Andrea Correale, founder and president of Elegant Affairs Catering, for expert advice on choosing the best outdoor games. “Outdoor games are a great way to keep guests engaged and have them socialize with people they may not typically speak to,” says Quiles, adding that she even uses them for weddings, corporate events, and other outdoor gatherings. Find all of the outdoor game recommendations below, and keep scrolling for expert advice on what to keep in mind while shopping for them.
Our Top Picks
GoSports Backyard Bocce Set Spikeball Standard 3-Ball Kit Kan Jam Original Disc Game Qrooper Kids Toys Toss and Catch Game Set Triumph Premium 2x3 Cornhole Set Exploding Kittens Throw Throw Burrito: Extreme Outdoor Edition Monoprice Giant Tumbling Tower Bottle Bash Outdoor Flying Disc Game Set Yard Games Giant 4 In a Row Game Elite Sportz Ring Toss Games for Kids
Who it’s for: People with a lot of lawn space. Who it isn’t for: People who don’t have access to grass, sand, or turf. Bocce is a classic lawn game that’s super easy to play yet fun for all ages. This set comes with all the essentials needed to get the game started: eight large balls, one small one (called the pallino), and a convenient canvas carrying case to bring to family parties, picnics, you name it. The objective is to earn more points than the opposing team by rolling your bocce balls closer to the pallino ball than your competitors. You can choose between hard resin balls or soft rubber ones, the latter of which is suitable for all ages, and the former for those 12 years and up. The resin option is the more popular choice and will ensure you get that perfect “knock’’ sound when the balls hit each other.
Recommended Age: 12 years and up for resin; all ages for soft rubber Players: 2-8
Who it’s for: People looking for a game suitable for the beach. Who it isn’t for: Couples won’t be able to enjoy this game, as it requires at least four people. Spikeball and beach days go hand in hand, though that’s not to say you won’t get a kick out of it in your backyard, too. All you need to play is four people (all ages can get involved) and some open space. For those unfamiliar, the game involves two teams, usually with two people each, who alternate hitting the ball back to the net. The other team has up to three tries to hit the ball back to the net. If they fail to do so or it hits the ground, the other team gains a point. Pro tip: You’ll definitely be sweaty after a round of this game, especially after diving for the ball. On the bright side, transporting it is easy thanks to its foldable legs and carrying bag.
Recommended Age: 12 years and upPlayers: 4+
RELATED: The 9 Best Beach Towels, According to Our Tests Who it’s for: People looking for a game suitable for the beach. Who it isn’t for: Couples won’t be able to enjoy this game, as it requires at least for people. Kan Jam has been around since the early aughts, and through the years, it’s solidified its status as one of the most sought-after outdoor games on the market. The Kan Jam Original Disc Toss Game comes with two cans dubbed “goals” and one flying disc, and the objective is to earn 21 points before the other team does. How it’s done? You take turns throwing (or deflecting) the flying disc from entering the other team’s goal, which scores a goal. Some pros are that it’s lightweight, easy to assemble, and uncomplicated to learn, even for young kids.
Recommended Age: 9 years and upPlayers: 4
Who it isn’t for: People looking for a game that entertains both kids and adults. Kids will have hours of fun with the Qrooper Kids Toys Toys and Catch Game Set, a colorful upgrade from your classic game of catch. Not only does it get little ones outside and away from electronics, but it also boosts their hand-eye coordination. It comes with four duo-tone velcro paddles featuring an adjustable strap so even the smallest-handed will get a secure fit, four balls, and a storage bag. It’s waterproof, so your family can play it in the pool without worrying about it falling apart.
Recommended Age: 3 years and up Players: 2-4
Who it isn’t for: It’s not specified whether this cornhole set is waterproof, which may be a deal-breaker to some. Summer barbecues aren’t complete without a good game of cornhole (aka bean bag toss), like the Triumph Premium 2x3 Cornhole Set, featuring an elegant light wood design that will look great in your backyard. Guests will look forward to partnering up and trying to defeat the other team by scoring 21 points before they do. And no, you don’t need to purchase bean bags separately because this set includes everything you need for a fun afternoon: two boards and eight bean bags (four red and four blue). Even better, they’re surprisingly portable. The boards velcro together from the back, creating an interior compartment for you to store the bean bags, and even feature a carrying handle.
Recommended Age: All ages Players: 2-4
RELATED: The 6 Best Adirondack Chairs for Lounging, According to Our Testing Who it’s for: People looking for an outdoor game that’s anything but ordinary. Who it isn’t for: People who don’t see the fun in getting hit with giant inflatable burritos. Throw Throw Burrito is the world’s first dodgeball card game, and, as the name implies, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. What separates the Extreme Outdoor Edition from the original is that instead of throwing small foam burritos at your competitors, you throw three-foot-tall inflatable ones. The goal of the game is to win two rounds by earning the most points, which you do by passing cards and collecting three-of-a-kind sets as fast as you can. The burrito-throwing comes into play when competitors get three “brawl,” “draw,” or “duel” cards: The first person to be hit by a burrito loses a point.
Recommended Age: 7 years and upPlayers: 2-6
Who it’s for: People who love a nail-biting strategy game. Who it isn’t for: People looking for a weatherproof outdoor game. Calling all Jenga fans: Ready to up the ante? Introducing the Monoprice Giant Tumbling Tower, which stands at two and a half feet tall but can grow up to over five feet if you plan your moves wisely. Perfect for a large group and all ages, the premise is simple yet mildly stressful: Players individually remove one block at a time from any tower level and then stack their piece on top, and the game ends when the tower falls. This set comes with a portable nylon bag, in which you can neatly stack all 56 pieces so they’re already upright and ready to play.
Recommended Age: All agesPlayers: 2+
Who it’s for: People looking for a competitive game that’s a step up from frisbee. Who it isn’t for: People who’d prefer a sit-down outdoor game. Bottle Bash is a unique—and unexpected—take on the classic frisbee game you know and love. The goal: Teams of two take turns trying to knock the bottle off their opponent’s pole with a frisbee. The throwing team earns points if the opponent drops the bottle or disc. To play, you just stake the two poles into the ground (or maybe even shallow water, if you’re at the lake!), allowing 30 to 40 feet of distance between the two. Then place the bottles on them, and you’re ready to play.
Recommended Age: 12 years and upPlayers: 4+
Who it’s for: People looking for a one-on-one strategy game. Who it isn’t for: People looking for a game that involves active movement. If you love playing the classic game of Connect 4—or maybe you haven’t played it before but want to—the Yard Games Giant 4 In a Row Game needs to be on your radar. It’s giant—three feet wide and two-feet tall, to be exact—but it’s lightweight, so you can easily move it inside when the weather isn’t ideal. It looks luxe, too, thanks to its wooden construction and natural stain. To keep it in perfect shape for years to come, this set includes a storage bag with pockets for the coins, too.
Recommended Age: 8 years and upPlayers: 2
Who it’s for: People looking for an outdoor game suitable for indoor use. Who it isn’t for: People looking for an outdoor game geared toward adults. Both kids and adults will have a blast playing the family-friendly Elite Sportz Ring Toss Game. It requires seconds of assembly and comes with 10 plastic rings, five rope rings, five pegs, a two-part standing base, and a travel bag. The objective of the game is simple: Aim your rings at the pegs, and whoever gets the most points per round wins. Since this game is low-maintenance, it’s safe for indoor use on rainy days or at the height of winter. Better yet, it also gives little ones practice with hand-eye coordination and basic math!
Recommended Age: All ages Players: 1+
Who it’s for: People looking for an affordably priced croquet set for children and adults. Who it isn’t for: People who want a game that doesn’t require much setup. We can’t talk about outdoor games without spotlighting one of the classics: croquet. The GoSports Six Player Croquet Set is soon to be your favorite outdoor purchase because it features six bright and cheerfully-colored mallets that look high-end without breaking the bank. It comes with color-coordinating balls, nine wickets, two end posts, and a vintage-inspired storage bag. Both children and adults can enjoy the fun thanks to the mallets’ 35-inch handles, an upgrade from the 28-inch handles for younger players exclusively. What’s more, the handles feature a comfortable grip for control so you can take home the gold—or, at the very least, earn bragging rights.
Recommended Age: 10 years and up Players: 2-6
Who it isn’t for: People looking for a pong game with large buckets. Juegol Yard Pong sounds like a drinking game, but it doesn’t have to be— unless that’s the vibe you’re going for. It’s suitable for everywhere from the backyard or porch to the driveway or the beach, and perfect for all ages who appreciate some competitive fun. It includes 12 durable red buckets and four balls: two white hollow balls suitable for the sand and two yellow tennis balls. All you need to get the game going is sand or water to hold the buckets down, and then you’re set to start eliminating the other team’s buckets. For endless playtime, the buckets easily stack into the accompanying drawstring bag.
Recommended Age: All ages Players: 2-4
RELATED: The 5 Best Charcoal Grills for Cooking Outdoors Who it’s for: People looking for a versatile dice game for children and adults. Who it isn’t for: People who don’t want to have to do a lot of bending over to up the dice. Unlike your average set of dice, the Swooc Games Giant Yard Dice Set is oversized, coming in at 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5-inch per die (a whopping 150 times the size of regular dice, according to the brand). This set comes with five reusable score cards, a dry-erase marker to keep track of who’s in the lead, and a list of 20 games you can play if you need inspiration. Kids will love shaking them up in the accompanying bucket to play games like Yardzee & Yard Farkle. And don’t let the wood design fool you—this game is designed to withstand the elements at the beach, pool, picnic, or lake.
Recommended Age: All ages Players: Up to 5
Who it isn’t for: People who don’t have a flat area of land to assemble the net on. Those who want to level up their net game ought to consider the Patiassy Badminton set, which comes with not one but three different ball games and all of the necessary accessories: a volleyball, two badminton rackets, three shuttlecocks, two paddles, two pickleballs, and a carry bag. There’s a 17- x 2-foot net included, too, which comes with adjustable height poles so that you can use it for various purposes, including badminton, kids volleyball, and pickleball. The best part is that it’s super easy to assemble; all you have to do is interlock the poles with an accompanying bungee cord, and you’re good to go—no staking required.
Recommended Ages: All agesPlayers: 2 (unless you purchase more rackets and paddles)
Who it’s for: People who want an outdoor game that’s easy to assemble. Who it isn’t for: People uninterested in a throwing game. All ages will have good ol’ competitive fun with the GoSports Ladder Toss Indoor/Outdoor Game Set, which includes two targets, six rubber bolos, and a carrying case. For those new to the lawn game, the goal is to be the first to 21 points by tossing and wrapping your bolos around different rungs of the opposite ladder. Each tier ranges from one to three points, the top rung being the highest and the bottom being the lowest. A clever feature about this set in particular is that there’s a built-in scorekeeper on the target to keep track while you play.
Recommended Age: All ages Players: 2-4
Recommended Age
When choosing the best outdoor game, you should also consider the primary demographic of the group, says Correale, who poses the question: Will adults, children, or both be playing? That said, you should note the age recommendation of your prospective game, or at least use your best judgment to decide if all ages will enjoy it. If you’re looking for a game for both adults and children, perhaps invest in a group-friendly option like badminton or bocce—or separate games designated for adults and children, respectively.
Portability
Portability is a vital factor to consider when purchasing an outdoor game, especially if you intend to bring it to the beach, park, a friend’s house, or a campsite. For that reason, it’s important to look for outdoor games that come with durable storage bags that make transportation a breeze. Having a storage bag also ensures your game stays in tip-top shape: “Storage and packaging of the games is essential,” says Quiles, who adds that all of your games should have a designated home to ensure nothing gets lost and keep them safe from the outdoor elements.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Marisa Petrarca, a contributing writer for Real Simple with over five years of editorial experience crafting product reviews and lifestyle content. To compile this list, she spent hours researching outdoor games. She also consulted Andrea Correale, founder and president of Elegant Affairs Catering, and Yaz Quiles, owner of experimental and creative agency Pop! By Yaz, for recommendations on choosing the best outdoor games.
